visog Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Basschatters, Not sure if you've been following the development of Joe's signature Warwick? Well here it is and it looks great - probably very expensive but great... Here's Joe's unboxing video: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Beauty is clearly in the eye of the beholder, because that does nothing for me visually. Sounds good though, which I guess is what really matters. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz39 Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 I like most of it, bit too busy with the hardware. He did look pleased though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 3 hours ago, visog said: Basschatters, Not sure if you've been following the development of Joe's signature Warwick? Well here it is and it looks great - probably very expensive but great... Here's Joe's unboxing video: Looks like a particularly excited Fortress... He does seem like a very nice chap though. He seemed to like the gig bag so much I thought he'd forgotten about what was inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimus Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 I would agree that it's a little too busy with the hardware, visually, for my taste but it does sound well which is the main thing. Interested in the Aguilar super doubles. Also seems like Joe gets a haircut after the first playing sample... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 6 hours ago, optimus said: Also seems like Joe gets a haircut after the first playing sample... 🤣🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fender73 Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 Nope, it’s not for me, but if Joe likes it, then that’s all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 Agree that it’s a bit busy hardware-wise but I do have a strange love of the Fortress shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 I've been following the build diary on YT - for me the most entertaining bit has been Joe's commentary over the production process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thestick Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 Why did he replace his Fodera? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted June 23, 2018 Author Share Posted June 23, 2018 Probably a deal/endorsement I'm guessing. Warwick are pretty savvy working with I/net musicians and educators to promote the brand to the blogging generation. Given Warwick's pricing, I bet the price of that bass is not too far of the Fodera. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 Having watched the original video and heard all the name checks he gave Warwick, I'm just surprised he did not get the name of the guy he shows assembling it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 15 hours ago, thestick said: Why did he replace his Fodera? He found it was too heavy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 His Warwick can't be much lighter with all that metal paraphernalia on it!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 It says in the video - 1/3rd lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, BreadBin said: It says in the video - 1/3rd lighter. I stand corrected. For those interested, the bass has popped up on Warwick's customer shop site: http://warwick.de/en/Warwick---Products--Instruments--Customshop---Masterbuilt--Basic-Bass-Models--Discontinued-Customshop--Discontinued-Models--Fortress---18-3758--5-string--Pictures.html I wonder what was involved with changing the body shape? Did Joe sit with a Warwick designer? How far can you go before they say, "that's too far off the body shape template" Edited June 24, 2018 by visog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Hubbard Bass Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 (edited) Hey Guys! Just stumbled over this thread and thought I'd chime in a bit about what is unique about my JHB signature bass. After the Warwick 35 years celebration in September 2017, Warwick asked me what would it take for me to come onboard as an endorser. My answer was simple, "You have to make me a bass that I'll want to play forever!" I was imediately flown out to Germany to the Custom Shop and spent 4-days with their head designer going through all the details of what had to be in this model. It has to be said that the Warwick JHB is totally different to any other Warwick bass I have seen and/or played, and when I was at the factory, I played everything they had. The Fortress body shape was chosen for two reasons. Firstly, Warwick did not want to design a completely new body shape, they wanted it to be representative of one of their basses- that was the only restriction. I chose the Fortress because at 24 frets, it was the only body shape they do that balanced properly. The shape was cutomised slightly in that it had a deeper angled curved where the forearm goes across and deep scoops on the inside of both the upper and lower horns. One of the most radical changes made, was the use of a different bridge. Historically, Warwick has always used a 2-peice bridge which is highly adjustable, but I never liked the sound of those 2-peice bridges- too clickly and hi-fi sounding. Instead we used an All Parts 'Omega' bridge which is a copy of the Badass II bridge. Badass went out of business sometime ago and All Parts waited until their patent expired and have done an exact copy- IMO the best sounding bridge ever. This single customisation makes this bass sing head over heels compared to any other Warwick bass I've heard. I love the sound of the Aguilar Super Doubles. I had those in my Fodera, but that was something I switched out as the Fodera came with Seymor Ducans. I also wanted the EM Bass Mute, which is a switchable bass muting system which emulates the palm muting technique. The circuit was designed by me and Warwick did a terrific job in manufacturing that exactly to my personal specs. The body wood is swamp ash which is considerably lighter than the American Ash on the Fodera and has a much more agressive and responsive sound. There's an ultra-thin AAA Flame Maple top. This was crucial as a lot of basses are made with top woods that are too thick which messes with the sound. The neck is also completely different from the garden variety Warwick bass. For starters, it has 19mm spacing which was the first bass they've produced with this spacing. In addition the depth of the neck is super thin and instead of a "C" shape, it's more of an assymetrical shape much like a teardrop, where there's a little more weight at the low strings and less weight at the higher strings. While I was at the Custom Shop, I played the Lee Sklar model. Although I diddn't really like that bass, they used small madolin fretwire which was incredible, so we added that as well to the JHB. The neck is made from Flame Maple, with a Bird's Eye Maple fretboard. This was finished off with a graphite nut. The playabitlity is amazing and all in all Warwick has done a fabulous job in reproducing all of my original ideas about this wonderful instrument. So many people were shocked when they heard I had gone to Warwick, but when I posted the original sound samples people were amazed at how good this bass sounded. Many stating that it was a lot punchier than the Fodera. I did like the Fodera bass, but my JHB bass is so much better. This is the bass I use now. You'll see a lot of guys who have endorsements who will never play the basss they endorse unless they're at a trade show. Not me. From the very outset with Warwick, I said that the only way that I will work with you is that you knock this out of the park and build me something that I'll play forever! They in turn came up with the goods! Bavo Warwick! Edited October 17, 2018 by Joe Hubbard Bass 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted October 17, 2018 Author Share Posted October 17, 2018 Cool! Your 4-string Thumb is pretty nice too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Hubbard Bass Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 It's not a Thumb- it's a Streamer CV, but only 21 frets. There's a cool story about that too that I'll share another time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Good thing that you play better than you spell...the grammar Nazis are going to love your contribution. 😏😏 Something that I picked up on... 11 hours ago, Joe Hubbard Bass said: I chose the Fortress because at 24 frets, it was the only body shape they do that balanced properly. Quality!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totorbass Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 (edited) Sounds good. No doubt it can cut a mix if it can do a haircut. Edited October 18, 2018 by totorbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mastodon2 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 14 hours ago, Joe Hubbard Bass said: I chose the Fortress because at 24 frets, it was the only body shape they do that balanced properly. What a ringing endorsement for Warwick 😮 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 (edited) 10 hours ago, Mastodon2 said: What a ringing endorsement for Warwick 😮 I just think that's Joe being honest about his experiences, as he should be. Everyone else experiences will be different based on a number of different factors (strap height etc etc). Thanks for the insight Joe, I certainly wasn't aware that Warwick had never made a 19mm spaced 5 string, was aware of the Broad Neck 20mm option though, played a few of those years ago, actually very comfortable. Si Edited October 18, 2018 by Sibob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 On 17/10/2018 at 23:49, Mastodon2 said: What a ringing endorsement for Warwick 😮 Most Warwick have 36 frets and balance perfectly well. Also, @Joe Hubbard Bass I don't get the "never made a bass with 19mm spacing". I have a 2 piece adjustable bridge adjusted to 19mm spacing on all my Warwick basses I've owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Hubbard Bass Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Hey Grangur That is incorrect- most Warwicks are not made with 36 frets. The average with them is 24 frets and if you've ever played a Thumb bass or a Streamer which are their two most popular models, then you would immediately feel the unbalanced pull towards the headstock. That is precisely why Stu Hamm's signature model has a altered body shape from their standard Streamer shape. Wariwck's head designer Marcus Spangler and their owner Han Peter Wilfer have both told me directly that they have never made a neck as wide as mine to accommodate the 19mm specs. Have you spoken to them directly? No- I didn't think so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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